7 years on, VVCMC yet to implement NEERI-IIT suggestions to prevent flooding
Seven Years Later: VVCMC Still Hasn’t Acted on Flood Prevention Recommendations
Recent Deluge Highlights Infrastructure Failures
Bharatmorningnews.com – From July 4 through July 9, residents across Vasai, Nalasopara, and Virar endured relentless downpours that submerged streets, commercial establishments, and residential structures under multiple feet of water. As dusk approached, darkness consumed the neighborhoods after the electricity department cut power supplies as a safety precaution.
This recent crisis mirrors conditions experienced during the devastating 2018 monsoon season in the same area. Local observers point to inadequate preparation by the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) as the primary culprit, noting that the corporation ignored repeated warnings from both technical experts and community members regarding monsoon readiness.
Unfulfilled Expert Recommendations
BJP corporator Manoj Patil noted that following the 2018 floods, the municipal body commissioned research into the region’s flooding vulnerabilities with support from NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) and IIT. Despite receiving detailed recommendations from both institutions, Patil stated there is no proof that VVCMC ever executed the suggested measures.
When questioned about the delay, municipal representatives explained that implementing the required infrastructure would cost at least ₹300 crore. An official confirmed: “We have submitted a proposal for₹117.19 crore to the government which is under process.”
Environmental Degradation as Root Cause
Experts identify rapid urbanization in Virar West’s green belt as the fundamental driver of the flooding crisis. Extensive development has destroyed trees and mangrove ecosystems, while water bodies and historic wells have been filled in. Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines have been largely disregarded, and massive land reclamation projects have obstructed natural drainage channels that previously carried rainwater directly to the ocean.
Sameer Vartak, former chairman of the Congress’ State Environment Cell, said that the four NEERI-IIT reports had recommended the construction of eight to 10 culverts and three holding ponds to strengthen the drainage network, but not a single point in the reports had been implemented for over seven years.
Political Accountability and Builder Interests
Vartak, Patil, and additional specialists contend that the inaction was intentional, designed to shield unauthorized developments and real estate interests. Vartak explained the ecological significance of the region: “Vasai-Virar used to be an ecological buffer zone for Mumbai. This was where the excess flood waters would very quickly flow out to the sea. Today, it has become a perennial flood basin. Over the years, all the natural ways through which water from the mountains and forest area travelled to the sea have been encroached upon or blocked by the builders. If VVCMC opens these natural waterways, the foundation of the illegal buildings will become weak and they will fall like a pack of cards.”
Community members criticized political leaders and municipal staff for passive responses during the six-day rainfall. Sushant Pawar, a Nalasopara-based social worker, remarked: “When the corporator and MLA should have made arrangements to drain the water, they were getting reels made in the rain.”
For the past 15 years, water-holding ponds belonging to tribals in the Vasai-Virar region, mostly in Vasai West and on the Nalasopara West-Virar West link road near MHADA were bought by builders and covered up, said Vartak. After VVCMC acquired the land in 2015 to construct holding ponds, the builders earned TDR worth crores of rupees. But the civic body has not constructed even one water-holding pond to date. When questioned, its officials claimed that tenders had been floated but they could not find anyone to reconstruct the ponds. Instead, rampant construction has been going on.
Government Response and Future Plans
Despite VVCMC’s reluctance to engage with media and opposition voices, guardian minister Ganesh Naik, alongside MLAs Rajan Naik and Sneha Dubey, offered defense of the corporation on Thursday. While initially characterizing the flooding as a natural phenomenon, Naik later shifted his position and held VVCMC responsible.
During an inspection visit with municipal officials and citizens, Naik promised that a detailed action plan utilizing satellite technology would be developed within 15 to 20 days. The strategy would prioritize expansion of retention ponds and internal drainage infrastructure to mitigate future disasters.
Naik acknowledged expert concerns about extensive land and water body filling for unauthorized constructions across the city. He cautioned that removing these structures might provoke serious unrest, while committing to a balanced approach for long-term flood management.
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